This is Kevin’s story about our trip to La Paz from Cabo when we were returning from our Christmas trip.
There are a few ways to get to La Paz from Cabo. All seem difficult, but we were told that there’s a bus that can be taken. Big tour bus A/C, reclining seats, inexpensive, takes the same amount of time as other ways so we wanted to try it out. The issue is that we had Riley (no dogs per the bus rules – but no one seems to mind breaking rules here.) And it’s hard to find information about this bus. It’s ‘local’. As a tourist, no one will tell you. They’ll send you to the limo services or taxis.($$$) We also had a crap-ton of luggage 5 bags, an awkward box and Riley’s carrier. My case of travel stress is fully engaged so that’s the setup. Now for the story.
After taking a taxi to the bus station we found on Google maps, I successfully bought tickets for Bev and I in Spanish “Yo necessito dos boletos a La Paz Malecon”. For two of us it was about 19 USD. Cool so far. After waiting for the bus on the steps of the terminal they start loading luggage. Bev is trying to ‘sneak’ the very quiet Riley onto the bus in his little carrier, so she’s ahead of me and shows the bus driver her ticket and boards. I’m trying to ferry luggage through the line (too much luggage to deal with at one time) so I have a big pile that people are going around. (For the next part I have to fill in the blanks with what I think is happening because I barely have enough Spanish to say thanks and buy a coffee…) When it’s my turn I show the bus driver my ticket and he looks at my pile of luggage and asks if it’s all mine. I say “si” and he (I think) tells me I need to pay 75 more pesos to board. I’m freaking out because I’m convinced the bus will leave and I don’t have any money at this point. I gesture around frantically for a moment and and say “un momento…” (one moment), and jumped up the stairs of the bus and looked for Bev. As soon as I see her I say across the bus – possibly not in my quiet voice ” I NEED MONEY!” I hurry over to Bev and get some money with the passengers thinking it’s a hold up. Now all the passengers are in panic mode. Then I jumped back off the bus to talk to the driver. He looks at me and and says “Dos personas?” I say “Si” and he says “Oh equipaje no problema…” (for two people it’s not too much luggage) and I load the luggage! After this I decided I needed a new phrase for occasions like this and I came up with the one I used for a title. Mi esposa tiene todo dinero! (Translation: my wife has all the money). I think it’s pretty proper Spanish and I’ll bet there’s lots of times I’ll be able to use it!
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